It's cold outside so dog urinates inside

ASK THE VET

Trish King

Updated 3:02 am, Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Q:Our 5-year-old cocker mix has been perfect ever since we adopted him 5 months ago. He's smart and was housebroken in just one week. However, recently he's started urinating in our guest bedroom. Why is he suddenly doing this when he's been going outside all this time? We're never home to catch him in the act and reprimand him. What can we do?

A: When analyzing behavior, I find it's best to assume that the dog is confused, and not intentionally doing something you dislike. The most common reason for this problem, particularly for small dogs, is winter weather. Many dogs would rather eliminate in the comfort of their home when it's raining outside, and if there's an unused room, that is often the area of choice.

However, that may not be the reason for your dog's mistakes. Some medications can cause a dog to have trouble holding it for as long as they normally do. If that's the reason, then when he is off the medication, things should get better, although you may have to do some retraining. Finally, if you had another dog over for a visit, that can cause a dog to mark his home turf.

No matter what, you'll need to do a bit of work. First, of course, don't allow him access to the spare bedroom (which should be thoroughly cleaned). Make sure he is taken - not put - outside at regular intervals, and that he is praised for eliminating appropriately. If you do catch him in the act, you can chastise him (I prefer a sort of gasp, which often stops the dog in progress), and take him outside to finish his business. Do try to reinforce appropriate behavior, while preventing the unwanted.

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